System will not work, please help !

[Ben_UK]

Hello,

Just built a system and i carnt get it to boot up.

Specs

Abit IC7 socket 478 (was working fine in another system 2 weeks ago)
P4 1.6 400FSB (just got this delivered from ebay today)
512Mb PC2100 RAM (brand new from internet)
Radeon 8500 64Mb AGP (been in box for about 3 years)

I have power going to the system, all fans spinning etc

I get no picture on monitor, just the test screen on monitor 3 different colours.

The system makes no beeps, with or with out the PC speaker connected.

I have cleared the BIOS.

Anything else i should try ?

Thanks Ben

[Dav0s]

try ram in different slot?

[Ben_UK]

I have only tried it in DIMM 1

Theres 4 slots in totlal, will try the others now.

[ultim8um]

Probably wrong here but I thought the IC7 wasn't backwards compatible with 400Mhz FSB CPU's...

[herulach]

I would have said it may have something to do with the PC2100 not liking being run 200mhz above spec.

[BUFF]

I would have said it may have something to do with the PC2100 not liking being run 200mhz above spec.

It shouldn't be.
Intel bus is quad pumped - the real bus rate is 100 i.e. DDR200 which is PC1600

[Ben_UK]

In the IC7 book it shows 400FSB compatible.

I brought the PC2100 RAM as i was told that correct for the 400FSB chips ? is that right ?

[aidanjt]

the PC2100 RAM will still run at 100Mhz (200Mhz DDR), set it in your BIOS.

If you can't even get to POST and BIOS entry option then you have real problems (i.e. the CPU is probibly toast).

What in the name of God possessed you to get a rotting Northwood from ebay in the first place?! I'm sure you can pick up a respectable 3.2Ghz Prescott for a decent price.

[Nox]

Nowt wrong with the Northwoods!! From what I remember, a 3.2 Northwood was faster than a 3.2 Prescott too, or ran cooler or something. Was a while ago.

You probably would of been better getting PC3200 memory, it would of happily ran slower too, and been about the same price, if not cheaper.

But yeah, if its not POSTing, something is broken, assuming you've got it all plugged in correctly. Could of just needed a CMOS reset if you're going to a slower cpu than was previously installed, but you've allready done that

Nox

[herulach]

It shouldn't be.
Intel bus is quad pumped - the real bus rate is 100 i.e. DDR200 which is PC1600

ah yeah, the devils in the details eh?

[Ben_UK]

Ok thanks lads.

I have tried another AGP card and still the same, dint boot.

I think it could be the RAM, so i am RMA'ing back to ebuyer today.

The CPU was from ebay for £20, i am building a cheap PC thats why i went for that.

If the new RAM from ebuyer dont work i will have to send the CPU back.

Just to confirm i have Defiantly got the correct RAM for the CPU ?

Also the system makes no beeps what so ever, even if i remove then RAM/graphics card and try and boot it up.

[DanceswithUnix]

If you remove the RAM from the board and boot up, I would expect a few beeps from the motherboard to say the ram has failed.

[BUFF]

the RAM speed is OK - it's actually rated to run faster than required.

[aidanjt]

the CPU is toast

[shaithis]

No beeps normally means CPU or mobo.

In the past, its always been the mobo for me.

[Ben_UK]

Cheers lads.

Think it must be the CPU then.